For Transgendered, 10 Reasons Why 2010 Was a Watershed Year

By Sherman Leis

Dr. Sherman Leis, founder of the Philadelphia Center for Transgender Surgery, lists the reasons why he believes that 2010 was a watershed year for the transgender community.

1) A growing number of female-to-male (FTM) transitions.

Once only thought to be the province of males transitioning to females (MTF), a recent study showed that the transitioned male and female populations will equal each other within the next five years.

2) Growing acceptance of Gender Identity Disorder (GID) as a credible medical condition, instead of mistaking it to be a psychological disorder or perversion.

3) More conventional healthcare insurance policies are including transgender surgery and health needs in coverage, regardless of whether Obamacare is implemented or not.

4) The transgender community is gaining momentum to stand on its own and getting out from under the umbrella of the gay and lesbian community, except when it comes to fighting for human rights and dignity.

5) The U.S. is becoming a world center for transgender surgery as more trans patients from around the world are coming here for surgery. Although Asia and Europe still perform more trans surgeries overall, the growth trend is in favor of the United States.

6) More seniors are having transgender surgery. As society becomes more accepting, more seniors are making the commitment to realize their lifelong dream, including this one, the "world’s oldest transgender."

7) The most commonly performed surgical procedure for Male-To-Female transgender patients continues to be genital reassignment, although facial feminization procedures are a close second.

8) The most commonly performed surgical procedure for Female-To-Male transgender patients is breast removal and masculinization of the chest.

9) New medical innovations, such as micro surgery, the harmonic scalpel, radio-wave surgery, improved flap techniques, and new bio-medical materials like cellular dermal matrix products, will continue to make transgender surgery safer, with more realistic and functional results.

10) Trans people are becoming more accepted into pop culture, ads, TV shows, music, politics etc.

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